Improved rudder



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JONAS HIGBEE, OF NORTHPORT, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JOSEPH B. DENTON, OFNEWTON, NEW YORK.

IMPROVED RUDDEFt.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 46,753. dated March 7,1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JONAS HIGBEE, of Northport, in the county ofSuii'olk and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Rudders; and I do hereby decla-re that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable thoseskilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-,Figure l represents a side elevation of a vessel provided with myimproved rudders. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of one of the ruddersdetached. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists in the employment or use of two segmentalrudders-one at the bow and one at the stern, and hinged to the lowerends of the rudder-postsin combination with ins attached to the surfacesof each rudder in such a manner that said rudders adjust themselvesautomatically, according to the direction in which the vessel moves,that at the rear end or stern of the vessel being turned out in itsworking position and that at the bow or forward end being turned in outof harms way,'below the surface of the water.

A represents a vessel or boat intended to run in either direction, suchas an ordinary ferry-boat. These boats are generally provided with tworudders--one at each end-and if the boat is in motion that rudder whichis situated in the forward end has to be secured bya suitable stop toprevent it from turning. In this case the rudder forms the bow, or apart of the bow, of the boat, and if the same comes in contact with apiece ot' ice or with any other body floating in the water the rudder isliable to be knocked oft or to sustain some injury. Furthermore, theoperation of locking and unlocking the rudders at the end of each trip,or whenever the boat changes its direction, requires particularattention.

In order to overcome these difdculties, I have made my rudders B B inthe form of segments, which are hinged at their corners to the lowerends of the rudder-posts O O. Each rudder is provided with two tins, aa', which are secured to the same and project above its dat surfaces, asclearly shown in the drawings, and it' the boat moves in the directionof fthe arrow marked on it in Fig. 1, the rudder B turns in by theaction of' the water on its fins, and the rudder B turns out automatically and assumes its working position. Vhenever the boat changesthe direction in which it moves, and as soon as it begins to move in thedirection opposite the arrow marked on it, the rudder B turns out andthe rudder B/ in, without requiring any attention. When turned in, therudder is under the bow of the "essel and out ot' harms way, and whenturned out it is in full working position.

My rudders are operated in the usual manner by suitable steeringgear,and they are particularly intended for ferry-boats or for such vesselswhich run backward and forward, and are known by the'general termdouble-enders.7

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent* The hin gedsegmental rudders B B', provided with fins a a', and applied incombination with the posts O C', in the manner and for the purposesubstantially as herein shown and described.

JONAS HIGBEE.

Witnesses:

M. M. LrvrNesToN, C. L. ToPLrFF.

